Sunday in SF....

The buffet breakfast here is pretty amazing! We enjoyed it all in a pretty busy dining room this morning.

After we returned, it was time for our monitored Covid tests that we had ordered and brought with us. Word was they were easy to do and they were! Test itself was fast then wait for 15 minutes. A person is on video to watch you do the test then another looks at the results. The camera is focused on the test pack the whole time. We were sent emails that we were negative. Yea!!!!

Then it was off to the Hop on Hop off bus for a ride around town and over the golden gate bridge. What an interesting city this is. It is so hilly with varied architecture and crazy streets. There were some nice parks that have been developed with varieties of trees. The hills are pretty bald, however!

It was really chilly riding on the top deck but worth the view. When we jumped off we hustled along the Embarquadero to a warm restaurant for lunch and a hot beverage. George had coffee but I chose hot chocolate and Baileys! Yum! We sat inside Hard Rock and watched everyone walk by....what a show.

Sunday on the Wharf was crazy busy with everyone out for a stroll. George found a BB cap, one can never have too many, plus he loses them! A candy store named Candy Baron lured us in and George ended up with a bag full of saltwater taffy. He had fun picking out all the many flavors. We continued walking until we were tired so back to RUI for a pit stop and foot rest.

We poured ourselves a glass of wine and went down to the terrace chairs around the fire pits. Chatting with a lovely couple from Canada was delightful as we talked about travel adventures with them.
Later a bowl of soup with fresh sourdough bread at Bordin's was enough for supper. The company has been around since the gold rush and they have it down pat!!!

Tomorrow Alcatraz and pack up for boarding.

First stop San Francisco!

We made it! After a very early start at 4 am, we boarded a full plane with no hitches. What we didn't think of is the fact that it was the end of spring break for many and how many kids would be on the plane!

One mother held up the boarding while she played musical seats. Cajoling,is that spelled right??) Passengers to switch. Then, lucky me,I won the kicking, screaming toddler behind me. It felt like a torture flight. He would calm then scream...I want to get out. Boy, so did I!!!

After arrival we found our luggage and a cab easily for the ride to the RUI hotel. It was nice ride along the embarquaderro. We saw the Ruby Princess and a Disney ship waiting for passengers. Then a long line of completely naked cyclists rode past...then back again!! Ouch!!!

After checking in and napping a bit, we walked about a block to Fisherman's Wharf and had an early supper at Fog Harbour. Delicious dish of haddock, quinoa, tomatoes ,currants and watercress. Plus a glass of badly needed wine!!! After breakfast and testing tomorrow we'll explore the area.

A quick stop at CVS right on the corner to pick up shaving cream and polish remover then back to comfy beds for a very early night....oh, and chocolate for George! Who else can eat it as a bed time snack???!!!!

Life goes on....

With a change in plans, we hope to be on our way to San Francisco this time on Saturday.

We spent this second Covid year in Florida with mostly normal activities. Things were open, cautions were down and we even spent time on a cruise at Christmas. Airlines and rental car service is costly and problematic so staying here and avoiding the issue seemed wise. We zoomed the family on Christmas day but it was definitely not the same. Home next year for sure!!

Russia began to threaten in the Baltic area so we decided to cancel our planned summer cruise to that area. We watched and were able to book a Panama canal cruise from San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale. Since it has been on our bucket list we jumped on the deal to use our cruise credit from 2020.

This turned out to be a good decision as Russia is now invading Ukraine in horrible war mongering and NATO allies are concerned about the consequences for all. We are all aghast and wanting to help them, but can only donate to aid organizations and support our own government as it works toward the goal of peace.

As strange as the contrast feels, we go on with our lives here in the US.

Curacao Merry Christmas!

Happy to be sailing again even with masks!

Covid Winter

 We went south as usual this year figuring it was nicer to be in the warm weather if we had to be confined and cautious.  The family was doing well and we gathered just before we left to enjoy each other's company and say goodbye.  We planned to stay in Florida for the holidays to avoid travel.

Everyone has been cautious, zoom board meetings, little activity inside at all.  The gallery has held exhibits with everyone just dropping off their work and scooting away.  Not much socializing unfortunately.  Fortunately because we can be outside the painters meet wearing masks but can still enjoy painting and chatting safely.

The holidays were a bit strange with a zoom Christmas.  We watched as they opened gifts and laughed together.  George and I filled stockings for each other and exchanged a few gifts just to make the day a bit special.

George kept busy doing puzzles, each one more difficult than the other.  It was challenging and fun to post him working on them.  He also learned to make pie pastry and has made quiches, pot pies and others with this own crust and fillings.  New tools helped and I enjoyed the products of his labor.

Kris and Mitchell flew down in January then just Kris again in February.  We ate in a few restaurants outside only and enjoyed the beaches a bit but it was a much different experience than usual.

Now many are getting the vaccines and things will open up.  The insanity from politics is much less now that 45 is out and Biden is president.  There was a huge sigh of relief from all of us so tired of the awful mess he created.  The vaccines were a wonderful accomplishment done more in spite of politics than because of it.  Slowly the world is getting the shots and hopefully this pandemic will die down and life will return to a new normal.

I'm still doing some art and now that sanity is being restored I hope to be revitalized!

This is "Found"  created this summer from found items. A piece of handmade paper from a stash made by paper guild ages ago, a paper towel that I saved because I thought it was beautiful, a piece of grass cloth from the Scrapbox junk, a bottlecap, a feather found in a stash from a friend, and a broken beer bottle stuck to it's label found at the boat launch.  George thought I was nuts when I carefully carried it home.  This was fun to assemble on an old canvas I recycled as well.  

Happy Spring!!!!

Just to update...

 This entry is for posterity...

The Covid 19 virus is ramping up again after slowing some at the end of the lock down.  States opened and directed their citizens each in their own way.  Masks or no masks are a huge argument everywhere though the scientists say they help along with social distancing and lots of hand washing.  Michigan was strict and people were angry but our cases did go down. 

Currently Florida is high, Georgia..all republican states.  The virus has become a political issue.  Much has been learned since the first cases struck but now over 170,000 people have died.  Yes, that number is correct.  Having a comorbidity increases the likelihood of dying from this monster

There is a lot of controversy over whether or not schools should be in person or virtual.  Each seems to be different.  Portage is on line while Mitchell is going to his dorm at Western for classes.  Not sure how long that will last as many schools have closed again soon after opening.

And politics and the election is a nightmare.  Biden has chosen Kamala Harris as running mate.Don the Con is getting worse every day and spouts evil.  He is loosing per polls so is now sabotaging the post office to prevent mail in votes getting counted.  They are tossing sorters, picking up boxes and slowing everything down.   I hope to heaven he doesn't manage to win or the country is doomed.

The longest summer...

 On a positive note, the weather here has been remarkable.  Beautiful days, few storms, no tornadoes.  We have been so lucky to be here on the lake to enjoy the water and cooling breeze.

George and I have both been careful and discriminating on what we do.  A bit of shopping for groceries, a few art supplies and only a few people seen outside the family.  The big spurge was for Mitchell's graduation party last weekend.  It was outside  and people for the most part social distanced but few wore masks.  Food was prepackaged including the Chik Fillet main course and there was lots of sanitizer everywhere.   

Mitch was all smiles as he chatted up friends and family celebrating his achievement.  It was a beautiful day and breezy though hot.   Karen and I helped a lot and were pooped the following day!!   Now I am laying low until we are sure no virus was spread despite our pretty careful behavior.

Pickleball is still going strong and I am doing some painting with the plein air group.   This small oil painting done at Pickerel Lake Park was sold to a classmate of ours.  So nice.

I've made a few cards and will begin a painting Karen asked me to do for a friend.  Since we plan to go south after all at the end of October, I have a few more chances to paint plein air and mess in the studio before everything gets packed up.  We are very much missing traveling and planning our trips.  That is a long way off.  Crossing our fingers that our health remains good and no virus invades our home!!